Casco Bay Estuary Partnership is working with a host of partners to make ocean data more accessible to Casco Bay residents and businesses, so everyone can make decisions with the best available data. A new high-resolution coastal ocean model of water movement in Casco Bay will provide three-day forecasts of ocean conditions in Portland Harbor and surrounding areas, including predictions of water levels, ocean flooding, current velocity, wave height, water temperature, and salinity.

Coastal ocean circulation models can provide insight on present and future ocean conditions to help coastal cities assess risks and prepare for storms and other hazards. Such models can inform port operations and emergency management, support oil spill response and enhance coastal water quality management. By developing community-driven coastal modeling tools and scenarios, we can significantly increase the climate resilience of Portland Harbor and other coastal communities.

Results from this project will help us design maps, data visualizations, websites, and other tools to help community officials and residents access and use information from the Casco Bay circulation model. The Casco Bay model is expected to be in full operation by this summer.

A National Science Foundation grant to CBEP, in collaboration with the City of Portland, University of Maine, NERACOOS, and Scientific Solutions, Inc., is making this project happen.

Stay tuned on this page for further updates.